In order to deliver world class health and social care services, pathology services in Northern Ireland must be supported by modern information systems and infrastructure and work more efficiently and effectively to deliver patient and service user benefits.
Following a public consultation, work is now underway to transform pathology services. This includes:
- The Blueprint Programme, which will explore options for regionalising pathology management services and create the blueprint for a new regional pathology service management structure including the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service;
- The NI Pathology Information Management Systems Programme (NIPIMS), which will replace current laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and the blood production and tracking systems (B-Pat);
- The NI Pathology Network’s programme of transformation which oversees delivery of a range of complementary regional projects necessary to address existing service challenges and deliver service transformation, including workforce, training, and regional standardisation.